Don’t do it

Friday

Feb 15, 2013 at 7:49 AM

Lou ParrisMountains to Molehills

It seems that Mountains to Molehills readers haven’t been able to talk any sense into motorists who refuse to use that little lever on the left side of the steering column, but Betty Green of Landrum, S.C., isn’t giving up. “We need to inform people of the turn signal switch because it seems very few people are aware of it or know how to use it,” she grouses. “I am sure all the cars today come with an owner’s manual, but I don’t think people read it. Eating a burger and chatting on the phone while washing everything down with a 32-ounce belly washer doesn’t allow much time to find a turn signal switch even if you have read the manual and know how to use it. Some things should not be done while driving. After all, your life and someone else’s depend on how you operate your vehicle. Shave, read your paper, put on your makeup and tie down the kids and dog before you leave the driveway, not while you are on the highway.”

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‘ANY CONNECTION?’: Charles Williamson of Horseshoe, responding to Hendersonville resident Dick Roberts’ suggested irony of gun control advocate Rep. Carolyn McCarthy coming from an area in New York where the National Rife Association was founded, says Mr. Roberts didn’t do his homework. “What he seems to miss in his ‘research’ is at that time in our history the center of the small arms industry was also in the state of New York and basically remains so today,” responds Mr. Williamson. “Could there possibly be any connection? Duh! Mr. Roberts is totally correct about one thing: ‘You can’t fix stupid.’ ”

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‘HE DIDN’T LISTEN’: Linda Owens of Tuxedo is ready to box some ears, beginning with the guy in the White House. “Beginning in January, they took a bigger bite out of my paycheck,” she grumbles. “If you make $50,000 a year, you’re looking at a bigger tax bite of $20 weekly. That’s $80 a month I have to learn how to do without. I blame our president. He could have stopped this, but he didn’t listen to the people.”

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OH, MY!: A guy stopped at a local gasoline station, and after filling his car’s tank, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car while downing the drink and watched a couple of guys working roadside. One man would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other man came along behind him and filled in the hole. While one was digging a new hole, the other was 15 feet behind filling in the hole. The men worked right past the guy with the soft drink and went on down the road. “I can’t stand this,” said the man, heading down the road toward the men. “Just a minute,” he said. “Can you tell me what’s going on here with all this digging and refilling?” “Well, we work for the government, and we’re just doing our job,” one of the men said. “But one of you is digging a hole, and the other is filling it up. You’re not accomplishing anything. Aren’t you wasting the taxpayers’ money?” “You don’t understand, mister,” one of the men said, leaning on his shovel and wiping his brow. “Normally there’s three of us — me, Bubba and Billy Bob. I dig the hole, Bubba sticks in the tree, and Billy Bob here puts the dirt back. Bubba’s job has been cut, so now it’s just me and Billy Bob.”

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club has expanded hours for visits to one of the nation’s most highly detailed HO model train layouts, and it’s at the train depot right here in Hendersonville. Adults and children will be entertained, educated and inspired by the extensive layout, a Thomas the Tank children’s area, depot historical artifacts and a real Southern Railroad caboose. The 100-foot-long layout has more than 2,000 feet of track and 225 switches and turnouts. Visitor hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Best of all, admission is free. You’ll find the train depot at 650 Maple St.